Imagine five of the world’s greatest players lining up for a domestic one-day game at the WACA Ground in Perth in December, 1976. Then, imagine the team that bats first being bowled out for just 77 runs. Finally, let your imagination take you through what was a devastatingly effective spell by fastbowling great Dennis Lillee leading his team to what appeared to be an unwinnable victory – having claimed Viv Richards and Greg Chappell for just two runs between them! “Make ‘em fight for it, be buggered … we’re going to beat these bastards!” – Dennis Lillee said before going out to spearhead the ‘impossible’ win. Such a feat has never been repeated since in domestic first-class cricket. Years later Viv Richards’ commented, “Do I remember that game? It’s never far from the mind, man.”
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Imagine five of the world’s greatest players lining up for a domestic one-day game at the WACA Ground in Perth in December, 1976. Then, imagine the team that bats first being bowled out for just 77 runs. Finally, let your imagination take you through what was a devastatingly effective spell by fastbowling great Dennis Lillee leading his team to what appeared to be an unwinnable victory – having claimed Viv Richards and Greg Chappell for just two runs between them! “Make ‘em fight for it, be buggered … we’re going to beat these bastards!” – Dennis Lillee said before going out to spearhead the ‘impossible’ win. Such a feat has never been repeated since in domestic first-class cricket. Years later Viv Richards’ commented, “Do I remember that game? It’s never far from the mind, man.”
Through one electric game -unsurprisingly dubbed ‘The Miracle Match’ -, which he himself took part in, author Ian Brayshaw tells the story of some of the greatest players of Australian and international cricket in the 1970s. The Miracle Match is a nostalgic look at the game in a bygone era that will touch the hearts of cricket fans young and old.
